Latest news with #LapuLapuFestival
CTV News
06-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Lapu-Lapu memorial service held 40 days after festival attack, in Filipino tradition
A Lapu-Lapu memorial service was held June 5, 40 days after the attack on the Filipino festival. It has been 40 days of pain for Vancouver's Filipino community. Forty days of disbelief since a car rammed through a crowd at the Lapu-Lapu festival in April, leaving 11 people dead. On Thursday night in East Vancouver, a service was held to remember those who were lost. 'In Filipino Catholic tradition, the 40 days is very significant,' Crystal Laderas with Filipino BC told CTV News on Thursday. 'It's believed that within the 40 days, the souls of our loved ones are very close to us, and then on the 40th day, they transition to the afterlife and they find peace.' A touching memorial service was held at St. Andrew's Parish Church in East Vancouver, just blocks from where tragedy struck, marking a chance to honour those who died. It's the latest in a series of memorial events since the attack in April which made global headlines – in what has been described as one of Vancouver's darkest days. 'These 40 days recall the ancient story that when people lost their direction, lost their hope, somehow, like Jesus himself, showed himself alive and told them, despite what happened, we have hope,' Father Francis Galvan, who has Filipino heritage, told CTV News outside the church. After the service, those in attendance gathered at the site of the attack, lighting candles and saying prayers for those killed and injured. The days leading up to this event involved a debate over a City of Vancouver plan for a large scale benefit concert at Rogers Arena. That now appears as if it will go ahead, though no date has been set and there are conversations over specifics between the parties involved before any final decision. Filipino BC says Thursday's memorial service isn't closure, and that healing has no schedule. But at least this is a chance to remember – and honour – those who were lost.
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Memorial mass in Vancouver to mark 40 days since Lapu Lapu tragedy
People gather for a candlelight march during a vigil on the street where a vehicle-ramming attack occurred at the Filipino community's Lapu Lapu Day festival last week, on a provincial day of mourning for the victims, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, May 2, 2025. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press) VANCOUVER — Members of Vancouver's Filipino community and others will honour and pray for victims of the Lapu Lapu festival attack at a memorial mass today, 40 days after the tragedy that left 11 people dead. The date is significant in Filipino Catholic tradition as the end of a mourning period, and Rev. Francis Galvan says he expects the mass at St. Andrew's Parish church in East Vancouver at 6 p.m. to be crowded. Galvan, who is of Filipino heritage and is the pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Delta, B.C., says it's important for the healing process to be shared. He also says it's important to show solidarity with victims' families by hearing their stories and mourning together. Vancouver police say seven people injured in the attack remain in hospital as of Tuesday afternoon, with six in stable condition and one in serious condition. In a statement issued Thursday morning, advocacy group Filipino BC says the 40th day 'holds deep spiritual meaning.' 'It is believed that the soul remains close to us during these 40 days, before finding peace and fully departing from the physical world.' The statement lists names and ages of all 11 people who died in the attack, who ranged in age from five to 60. 'This is not closure,' Filipino BC said of the 40th day. 'Healing does not follow a schedule. But today offers a moment to pause. To gather. To feel. And to remind ourselves that healing, while difficult, is possible when we do it together.' RJ Aquino, who chairs Filipino BC, said the aftermath of the April 26 attack had cast a shadow over Filipino Heritage Month, which is marked every June. He said some people were still having a difficult time crossing the street or even leaving their homes after the attack, but being with other members of the community is a way to encourage collective healing. The City of Vancouver has separately announced plans for a large-scale memorial event later this month to honour the victims. The 'Come Together: Vancouver Strong,' benefit concert will be held at Rogers Arena, although the exact date has not been set. Attack suspect Adam Kai-Ji Lo faces eight counts of second-degree murder, and Vancouver police have said more charges are expected. He is due back in court on Friday, as preparations to determine if he's fit to stand trial continue. This report by Nono Shen and Brieanna Charlebois of The Canadian Press was first published June. 5, 2025.
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Criticism of Lapu Lapu memorial concert surprises Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim
People bow their heads during a time of remembrance during a memorial for the Lapu Lapu Day festival victims, in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 31, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns VANCOUVER — Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said he was surprised by criticism of plans to honour victims of the Lapu Lapu festival attack with a large memorial event, which a Filipino advocacy group said lacked consultation and felt 'too soon' for some in the community. The benefit concert is set to be staged at Rogers Arena sometime this month, with the city footing up to $50,000 in production costs and the owners of the Vancouver Canucks offering the venue and its staff at no cost. 'It is not lost on me that we are now in June, and this is typically Filipino Heritage Month,' said Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung, who moved the 'time-sensitive' motion on the event. But soon after Vancouver's council unanimously approved the 'Come Together: Vancouver Strong' event, Filipino BC released a statement saying it wasn't told in advance about the vote, and the city should be prioritizing emergency recovery funding for those affected by the April 26 tragedy in which 11 people were killed and dozens hurt. The group was the organizer of the Lapu Lapu Day festival and has advocated for victims and the Filipino community. It said it had not been notified of the motion, and 'the timing, tone and format of such an event should be aligned with victims and the communities impacted.' 'While we understand the city's desire to create space for collective mourning and healing, it is critical that this process centres the voices of the families and affected communities,' it said. Sim said the remarks caught him by surprise. He said in a statement Wednesday that there had been 'ongoing and regular communication' with Filipino BC. 'We had met with Filipino BC as recently as this past Friday, and the executive director participated directly in that meeting,' he said. 'Come Together: Vancouver Strong was discussed at that meeting, including the need to bring an urgent motion to council … as any work being done needed approval from council.' RJ Aquino, who chairs Filipino BC, said in another statement later Wednesday that the group was not consulted on the content and specifics of the motion, and the problem was not about communication with Filipino BC. 'We heard from the community, including victims and families, that while they are in support of a benefit concert, the motion for a memorial event felt inappropriate and ill advised. They also told us an event in June feels too soon,' Aquino said. 'We understand that the city had not reached out to the victims and families before this motion.' Others are enthusiastic about the event, including Christian Cunanan, president of the United Filipino Canadian Association of British Columbia. He said the group had extended 'full and unwavering support' for the city's planned event. 'We welcome the city's commitment of funding toward the planned event. This show of solidarity is both meaningful and appropriate,' read the statement. Kirby-Yung said she had been advised by the mayor's office to bring the motion forward on behalf of B.C. MLA Mable Elmore. Elmore — who is of Filipino heritage and was at the Lapu Lapu festival when the attack took place — also issued a statement on Wednesday calling the event a 'welcome step toward healing.' 'Mayor Sim, his staff, Filipino BC, and other stakeholders have been present at the table and working together to prepare for 'Come Together: Vancouver Strong,'' Elmore said. She said the concert will help the community and the city to 'emerge stronger and more united.' Adam Kai-Ji Lo faces second-degree murder charges over the attack, in which an SUV was driven at high speed through a crowd of festival attendees. Thursday marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for victims according to Catholic tradition. This report by Nono Shen, The Canadian Press, was first published June 4, 2025.
CTV News
04-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Criticism of Lapu Lapu memorial concert surprises Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim
People bow their heads during a time of remembrance during a memorial for the Lapu Lapu Day festival victims, in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 31, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns VANCOUVER — Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said he was surprised by criticism of plans to honour victims of the Lapu Lapu festival attack with a large memorial event, which a Filipino advocacy group said lacked consultation and felt 'too soon' for some in the community. The benefit concert is set to be staged at Rogers Arena sometime this month, with the city footing up to $50,000 in production costs and the owners of the Vancouver Canucks offering the venue and its staff at no cost. 'It is not lost on me that we are now in June, and this is typically Filipino Heritage Month,' said Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung, who moved the 'time-sensitive' motion on the event. But soon after Vancouver's council unanimously approved the 'Come Together: Vancouver Strong' event, Filipino BC released a statement saying it wasn't told in advance about the vote, and the city should be prioritizing emergency recovery funding for those affected by the April 26 tragedy in which 11 people were killed and dozens hurt. The group was the organizer of the Lapu Lapu Day festival and has advocated for victims and the Filipino community. It said it had not been notified of the motion, and 'the timing, tone and format of such an event should be aligned with victims and the communities impacted.' 'While we understand the city's desire to create space for collective mourning and healing, it is critical that this process centres the voices of the families and affected communities,' it said. Sim said the remarks caught him by surprise. He said in a statement Wednesday that there had been 'ongoing and regular communication' with Filipino BC. 'We had met with Filipino BC as recently as this past Friday, and the executive director participated directly in that meeting,' he said. 'Come Together: Vancouver Strong was discussed at that meeting, including the need to bring an urgent motion to council … as any work being done needed approval from council.' RJ Aquino, who chairs Filipino BC, said in another statement later Wednesday that the group was not consulted on the content and specifics of the motion, and the problem was not about communication with Filipino BC. 'We heard from the community, including victims and families, that while they are in support of a benefit concert, the motion for a memorial event felt inappropriate and ill advised. They also told us an event in June feels too soon,' Aquino said. 'We understand that the city had not reached out to the victims and families before this motion.' Others are enthusiastic about the event, including Christian Cunanan, president of the United Filipino Canadian Association of British Columbia. He said the group had extended 'full and unwavering support' for the city's planned event. 'We welcome the city's commitment of funding toward the planned event. This show of solidarity is both meaningful and appropriate,' read the statement. Kirby-Yung said she had been advised by the mayor's office to bring the motion forward on behalf of B.C. MLA Mable Elmore. Elmore — who is of Filipino heritage and was at the Lapu Lapu festival when the attack took place — also issued a statement on Wednesday calling the event a 'welcome step toward healing.' 'Mayor Sim, his staff, Filipino BC, and other stakeholders have been present at the table and working together to prepare for 'Come Together: Vancouver Strong,'' Elmore said. She said the concert will help the community and the city to 'emerge stronger and more united.' Adam Kai-Ji Lo faces second-degree murder charges over the attack, in which an SUV was driven at high speed through a crowd of festival attendees. Thursday marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for victims according to Catholic tradition. This report by Nono Shen, The Canadian Press, was first published June 4, 2025.
Globe and Mail
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Vancouver Mayor, Filipino advocacy group at odds over Lapu Lapu memorial event
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says he's surprised by criticism of plans for a large memorial event this month to honour victims of the Lapu Lapu festival attack, which a Filipino advocacy group says was arranged without proper consultation. Filipino BC says it wasn't told in advance about a vote approving the event by the city council on Tuesday, and the city should be prioritizing emergency recovery funding for those affected by the April 26 tragedy in which 11 people were killed and dozens hurt. The motion, brought by Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung, outlines an event called 'Come Together; Vancouver Strong' at Rogers Arena in June, but no specific date has been set. Sim says in a statement Wednesday that his office was surprised by Filipino BC's criticism given what he calls 'ongoing and regular communication' with the organization. He says there was a meeting with Filipino BC on Friday, attended by its executive director, where the memorial event was discussed. Sim says his office has reached out to Filipino BC to seek clarification and reaffirm a shared commitment to ensuring the event is done with the community. Kirby-Yung had told the council meeting the Filipino community had been working with the mayor's office and was comfortable with the event. Remembering the Vancouver attack victims Filipino BC said in its statement issued later Tuesday that 'the timing, tone and format of such an event should be aligned with victims and the communities impacted.' 'While we understand the city's desire to create space for collective mourning and healing, it is critical that this process centres the voices of the families and affected communities,' it said. Kirby-Yung said she was advised by the mayor's office to bring the motion forward, on behalf of B.C. MLA Mable Elmore and that Filipino BC was engaged in the plans. Councillors Peter Fry and Lucy Maloney had questioned whether the Filipino community was aware of the motion, but it ultimately passed unanimously. Elmore – who is of Filipino heritage and was at the Lapu Lapu Festival when the attack took place – issued a statement on Wednesday saying the event that she described as a benefit concert 'is a welcome step toward healing.' 'Mayor Sim, his staff, Filipino BC, and other stakeholders have been present at the table and working together to prepare for 'Come Together: Vancouver Strong,' Elmore said.
